My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 457 What a coincidence
Noticing his wife's gaze, Chen Ling gave an awkward smile; this was no one's fault.

Wang Lixian said it at home, without specifically telling anyone else.

Who would have thought that their sixth daughter would specifically lead people to catch horseflies?

They just heard that chickens that have eaten horseflies lay better eggs, so they didn't care about anything else. It's all because of eating that they caused all this trouble.

Where did you catch the horseflies?

While asking them questions, he led them into the farm and applied medicine to the piglets.

"Right in Laohewan, our village's cattle graze there, and there are tons of horseflies."

Liu Nier perked up as soon as she heard this.

Then I took out a jar and showed it to him. It was swarming with dead horseflies, like flies.

"You guys are really something. Getting stung by horseflies is one thing, but you go right next to the cow to fight them off. Aren't you afraid the cow will kick you?"

Chen Ling smiled.

Catching these things to feed the chickens is such a hassle.

Only little kids have that kind of energy and drive.

"Don't worry, we know those cows well. We basically go herd them every day after school with the snotty-nosed kids."

We helped the cows swat the horseflies, and they were all very happy.

The cattle that the villagers are raising now are all young, half-grown cattle. The children often feed them and take them out to graze, so the cattle quickly become familiar with them.

"Liu Ni'er is right. The medicine that Aunt Su Su prescribed is really effective. It doesn't hurt anymore after applying it."

At this moment, Piglet, having forgotten the pain of his wounds, ran over laughing and snatched the bottle that Liu Nier had used to collect horseflies, still with tears in his eyes.

"Uncle Fugui, you don't know how painful it is when horseflies bite. I didn't know why the horseflies were so uncomfortable before, but when it bit me, it hurt so much that I almost jumped up."

The little piglet gestured, his face covered in dirty sweat stains and showing fear.

"Those brats deserve it."

Wang Lishan scratched his bald head and said disdainfully, "You don't know anything and you still try to catch horseflies? Are horseflies so easy to catch?"

"If something runs right up to you and won't leave, why bother trying to catch it? It's like asking to get stung."

That's just how horseflies are.

Unlike flies and mosquitoes, they fly away as soon as you shoo them away.

Horseflies are something you can't drive away no matter how hard you try.

They'll find all sorts of ways to fly around you, playing guerrilla warfare with you.

They won't stop until they bite you and suck your blood.

"Hmph, you'll learn your lesson after being stung once. If it weren't for your Aunt Su's effective medicine, you would have been swollen for ten days or half a month."

"Brother Lishan, you have to apply this ointment every day, it's hot now."

"Oh, okay, I heard from Liu Ni'er that last time it was almost autumn, and it still took three or four days to get better."

"These horseflies are extremely poisonous. Without your medicine, the swelling wouldn't heal for at least seven or eight days."

There's a local saying: "The closer to the water, the more poisonous the insects."

Horseflies are such poisonous insects, and more importantly, they carry even more germs. If one of them bites you, you'll feel swelling, pain, and itching. The pain can last for seven or eight days at the shortest, and it can really take up to half a month to heal.

It's much more serious than flies or mosquitoes.

Its mouthparts are also more powerful than those of flies and mosquitoes.

Chen Ling patted Liu Ni'er on the back: "You little rascal, you got bitten last year and still haven't learned your lesson. Why did you lead people to catch horseflies? Those things can only feed chickens a few times."

After the rain last night, there are so many dragonflies this morning. You might as well catch some dragonflies. There are fewer grasshoppers now, so you could catch cicadas to feed the chickens.

Liu Ni'er scratched her head and chuckled after hearing this.

Those little devils are nothing but gluttons; they only remember food and never learn their lesson.

But they are all quite sensible.

Knowing full well that Chen Ling's family has plenty of delicious food, they wouldn't come to take it for free, yet they always think about coming over for a free meal. This is something no adult needs to teach them.

So even if they are a little mischievous, they are not annoying.

……

The curtains and mats from the previous two years were worn out.

Moreover, the main room in the village also needs to be replaced with a new one.

So for the next few days, Chen Ling and his family stayed home weaving mats and curtains.

This curtain is also made of bamboo.

Using bamboo strips thinner than chopsticks, they are pieced together one by one, strung together, and tied together with hemp rope. The four sides of the curtain are sealed with cloth to prevent the bamboo strips from getting pricked, forming a whole that can be rolled up like a roller shutter.

Of course, because it is made of individual bamboo strips, there are gaps, making it very well-ventilated.

Specifically designed for summer use.

It can also prevent mosquitoes from flying into the room.

It's too hot, so Wang Susu, who is pregnant, doesn't go to the village pharmacy to see patients anymore.

The main reason is that fewer people get sick in the summer.

Unless it's a serious illness, people generally don't go to Chinese medicine shops for minor ailments. They just drink some medicine for headaches and fevers, or sleep it off and get through it.

People from the countryside aren't that delicate.

For example, when Chen Ling went out to work a few years ago, he was working as a dockworker in Guangdong Province. He met an older man in his fifties who, despite having a cold and fever, still carried a 200-pound sack without taking a break.

Just say you're sweating.

Chen Ling was dumbfounded; he himself couldn't have carried 200 jin (100 kg) back then.

Young people have strength, but it's often only for a short while. The younger ones haven't developed resilience yet, so they can't work for long.

He's not even as good as an old guy in his fifties.

So the pharmacy was deserted, and Wang Susu stayed home to dry medicinal herbs and weave mats and curtains with Gao Xiulan and her daughter.

Chen Ling did the rough work that they couldn't do, such as splitting bamboo strips, polishing burrs, and drilling holes in the bamboo strips.

The rest involves changing the water for the ornamental fish, feeding them, and playing with the turtles.

Or take your dog and eagle for a stroll in the mountains in the morning and at dusk.

Or he could ride a horse to pick up and drop off Wang Zhenzhen.

It was quite pleasant.

After these busy days, the peaches are starting to ripen.

Originally, we just wanted Sun Yanhong to finish picking the peaches and take them away, and then we could just wait for the tiger to come.

Unexpectedly, Han Chuang suddenly arrived on his motorcycle to inform him that Chen Ling was invited to his son's one-month celebration.

Chen Ling then remembered that Jiang Xiaoqing had become pregnant much earlier than his own wife.

Han Chuang hasn't come over lately, not even for the Dragon Boat Festival. Turns out he quietly had a baby.

It's my good friend's baby's one-month celebration, of course I have to go.

So after breakfast that day, Chen Ling picked a basket of peaches, took some money for the gift, and rode off on horseback. The roads in the county are now repaired.

Even the roads in Huangni Town have been repaired. Before, it was impossible to pass through Huangni Town when it rained, but now they are wide and flat, and there is no need to take detours. Little Qingma ran happily all the way.

We had a lively and festive full moon celebration at Han Chuang's house.

Chen Ling is now quite famous. Most people recognize his name, especially in Huangni Town, where the entire Lingyun area has factories.

As soon as that guy heard it was him, everyone was offering him drinks.

Seeing this, Han Chuang didn't feel overshadowed at all; on the contrary, he was extremely happy and proud.

In the end, Chen Ling wasn't drunk, but Chen Ling got drunk.

Getting drunk is one thing.

Unexpectedly, the next day, before he was completely sober, the kid rode his motorcycle over to find Chen Ling again.

They said they were helping their family pick peaches.

This kid is tall and strong, and he's definitely a good laborer.

But judging from his still-lingering smell of alcohol, why bother picking peaches? He should have a cup of tea to sober up first.

"Ling, Lingzi, let me ask you, what changes did your sister-in-law undergo before and after giving birth? I mean, how did her temper change?"

After drinking two cups of tea, Han Chuang's eyes gradually cleared, and he pulled Chen Ling aside and asked in a low voice.

"A change in temperament?"

Chen Ling smiled and said, "Nothing has changed. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"Hey, my brother, you don't know, Xiaoqing, she, she, once she got pregnant and gave birth, she was like a completely different person..."

Han Chuang said with a worried look, "She used to be so gentle, but now she's started to get angry with me and keeps saying that I'm not doing this well or that well."

They also said that I stay at home all day doing nothing and can't earn any money.

He criticizes me all the time.

After throwing a tantrum, she even cried and whimpered, still feeling annoyed, which really gave me a huge headache.

At this point, the tall, muscular man, who was 1.9 meters tall, almost shed tears.

"Haha, so that's what you meant."

Chen Ling immediately understood and patted his shoulder with sympathy: "It's normal for a woman's emotions to be unstable during pregnancy. Your sister-in-law became particularly talkative when she gave birth to Rui Rui."

I thought to myself, no wonder he came over right after the baby's one-month celebration; he was looking for some peace and quiet.

So she said to him, "At this time, don't make Xiaoqing angry at home. It's normal for her to be a little irritable after just finishing her postpartum period... Many new mothers experience anxiety and depression during pregnancy. You can talk to Xiaoqing's classmates and friends about this. I saw quite a few of them yesterday. If you have nothing to do, invite them over to chat more."

"Uh, Lingzi, you...you mean this situation is normal?"

Han Chuang's eyes widened, then he quickly breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought Xiaoqing was really that impatient with me, and we've only been married for a little over a year..."

"What nonsense are you thinking?"

Chen Ling gave him a speechless look. "Don't you and Xiaoqing like rabbits? A friend of ours left a litter of baby rabbits here before. Why don't you take one home and keep it as a pet when you leave?"

There are two litters of kittens, a mix of a civet and a domestic cat. If you want, I can get you a couple. These little darlings are so cute; they'll make you both happy."

Han Chuang's face lit up with joy, and he nodded repeatedly: "A rabbit will do. Raising a little rabbit is less troublesome."

Then, somewhat embarrassed, she said, "Lingzi, when you mentioned this, I suddenly remembered that Xiaoqing said she wanted to eat the crayfish like yours. Could you teach me how to make them?"

“That’s easy. Not to mention crayfish, when you go back, I’ll bring you some fried cicada nymphs and fried small fish. My family can’t finish picking all the peaches in a day. Come over tomorrow and I’ll bring you some more.”

Chen Ling smiled slightly. It's perfectly normal for a pregnant woman to crave oily and salty food after giving birth.

Restricting your diet during pregnancy can be incredibly frustrating.

Wang Susu was like that at the time; he didn't even know what was going on.

"Hehe, I knew coming to see you was the right decision. Lingzi, you really know your stuff."

Upon hearing this, Han Chuang understood what was going on. He immediately became excited, his face flushed, hoping that the delicious food could cure his wife's bad temper.

He finally sobered up.

The two tidied up and went to the orchard outside to pick the ripe peaches from the trees.

The peaches from Chen Ling's family this year taste better than the apricots.

Wash the peaches clean of fuzz, break one open, and it's crisp and sweet. The peach flesh inside is noticeably red, and the redder the part, the sweeter it is.

Not only is it sweet, but it's also very juicy.

However, it is also more prone to insect bites than apricots.

Chen Ling had previously planned to wait until the peaches were fully ripe before picking them and hauling them away in one trip, but now, the ripe peaches are so sweet that they attract too many insects to bite them, so he decided against it.

Pick as many as they are ripe as possible and let the lambs take them with them.

Perhaps he was hoping Chen Ling would cook him something delicious.

Han Chuang is a very energetic guy.

Carrying a ladder, they followed Chen Ling up one tree and picked the fruit from another.

It wasn't even noon yet, and we had already picked two and a half baskets of peaches.

Seeing that the sun was getting scorching, Chen Ling told him to take a break. Otherwise, picking peaches from a tree was not the same as finding coolness under the tree; the sun could make people dizzy and lightheaded.

After drinking some water and eating two slices of watermelon, the two of them took nets and buckets to the reservoir to catch crayfish.

"Ling, Lingzi, when are you going to hunt tigers?"

"It'll be here soon, in a few days."

The two walked and chatted until they reached the reservoir. In the sweltering heat, there was no one around. Not interested in staying any longer, they quickly took off their shoes and waded into the water. They scooped up more than half a bucket of shrimp and then headed home.

"Hey? Crabs? There are a lot of crabs under these rocks. Shall we catch them?"

As soon as he put on his shoes, Han Chuang noticed that there were crabs hiding under the rock he was sitting on. He looked around and found that there were crabs under almost every rock.

"Why catch that? It's not crab season yet. The crabs right now have very little roe and crab fat, so they're inedible."

Chen Ling shook his head. If they absolutely had to catch them, they could fry these crabs and eat them, but to be honest, they didn't have much meat. They would be better off frying a pot of scorpions.

"Actually, eels taste better at this time of year. I'll set two eel traps tonight, and when you come tomorrow, we'll cook a couple more dishes."

Han Chuang immediately perked up. Besides crayfish, the only thing he really wanted to eat at Chen Ling's house was eel. The first time he came to Chen Ling's house, he ate eel, and he still couldn't forget it.

Speaking of eels, Han Chuang slapped his forehead: "Oh right, there's something else I forgot to tell you. My brother wanted to ask you about it yesterday, but then he thought about it and realized that a full moon celebration is a joyous occasion, so he didn't bring it up..."

My brother's cannery isn't doing so well this year; it's getting harder and harder to keep going.

"It seems like we can't make canned meat anymore, and fruit is difficult to produce either. I was wondering for your opinion on what we should do now?"

They all thought that Chen Ling had a keen eye for talent. He never seemed to have to worry about anything, yet he made a lot of money. How could his judgment be bad?
Besides, those who associate with Chen Ling are all very powerful figures in their eyes, so asking him is definitely reliable.

"Xiaoqing actually got angry with me because of this. She said that nothing is easy to do this year, and many young people have gone out to work. My brother also thinks so. If things really come to a bad end, the two of us brothers can go out to work and earn money. Xiaoqing is very opposed to it, sigh..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling pondered for a moment and said, "If you ask me, this cannery isn't so bad... It's too hot outside, let's go home and talk about it in detail."

Recently, my brother-in-law Wang Qingzhong also wrote to say that he would follow my advice and prepare to start making T-shirts.

It's quite a coincidence that Han Chuang is bringing this up now; it just so happens that they've come together.

(End of this chapter)